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Every Monday we will be recommending films that are on TV that week, films playing at the cinema, and also remind you of those brilliant films hiding on streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and possibly in your own collection.

On Tuesday 24th October, Film4’s ‘FilmFear‘ returns, with 8 nights of horror, dark fantasy and intense cinema, including 5 TV premieres of new British films. Films with (FF) next to them in the below list are part of this special run.

In Cinemas

Thor: Ragnarok: Taiki Waititi is in the director’s chair for our third solo ‘Thor’ film. Whilst the God of Thunder’s previous solo outings have proved to be underwhelming and lacklustre in comparison to his Avengers team-mates solo efforts, this one looks do revitalise the name of Thor and if early buzz is anything to go by, we are in for a treat when it hits cinemas tomorrow! We’ll have our review up shortly.

The Ritual:“Our first bite of this year’s Halloween platter by no means leaves you dissatisfied” – Read why Jo recommends catching David Brückner’s ‘The Ritual’ whilst it’s in cinemas in her full review.

On TV

Monday

Fifty Shades of Grey: E.L. James’ bestselling romance novel series with erotica elements finds its way into film with ’50 Shades of Grey’. Dakota Johnson is Anastasia Steele, a college senior who steps in to take her sick roommate’s spot in interviewing elite businessman, Christian Grey, played by Jamie Dornan. Anastasia soon finds herself swooning for Christian Grey and his curiosity for life, delicacy, and lustrous adventures. Soon Anastasia begins to uncover Christian’s troubling life and it’s only the beginning of her concerns. Sam Taylor-Johnson directs this daring book to film adaptation that simply begs for more.

Matilda: TBA

Sing: TBA

Tuesday

Die Hard 2: Utilizing a similar structure to the first film of the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time, taking on the odds as the everyday hero who defies the impossible to save the day, this expands the general threat by not just containing the action into a tower block over a few floors, but a whole airport. Now the scale of the film is bigger, badder and more bombastic than ever before. Bruce Willis is back as John McClane going up against William Sadler’s ruthless Colonel Stuart aiming to free a powerful drug lord by taking seizing Washington Dulles International Airport. With the first bullet popping off in under 10mins, you don’t wait long for the action to kick-off and it’s just as brutal, bloody and brilliant as the untouchable original. It doesn’t try to replicate the 1989 classic, but simply give us more of what we enjoyed in a fresh setting and with new characters and set-pieces to boot. Yippie-ki-yay mother fu*maximum word-count exceeded*

Alien (FF): A near-perfect classic sci-fi horror set in deep space (where no one can hear you scream), ‘Alien’ has introduced generations to the horrifying xenomorph that kicked off a franchise. As the crew of a space vessel, Nostromo, receive what they perceive to be a distress signal on a distant moon, they detour to investigate. On arrival, they learn what they heard was actually a warning. As they begin their journey home, it becomes clear they are not alone. Starring Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley and directed by Ridley Scott, Alien is a horrifying two-hour exploration of what else could be ‘out there’.

Sightseers (FF): A dark and violent comedy drama from Ben Wheatley, ‘Sightseers’ is part cross-country road trip, part psycho couple goes on a killing spree because people annoy them. Its grim, its twisted, and it has a lot of heart.

Bronson: Nicolas Winding Refn takes Tom Hardy behind bars in his extreme biopic of Britain’s most violent prisoner, Michael Peterson a.k.a. Charles Bronson. Raw violence brushed with black comedy and a magnificent breakthrough performance from Hardy depicts the troubled but highly artistic mind of Bronson, defined from the man himself as “absolute madness at its very best”. “34 Years in prison. 30 in solitary confinement. Loving every minute.” sums up the provocative insight into the infamous convict’s eccentricity shown with style and gumption. “Hang onto your feelings,’ cause it’s going to get f****** hairy.”

40 Year Old Virgin: The purest form of crude comic relief comes to us through ‘The 40 Year-Old Virgin’. Veteran actor, Steve Carell, stars in this comedy as Andy Stitzer, a nerdy guy who finds that his not-so-secret confession of being a virgin has brought him challenges as he meets a nice single mother. With friends and coworkers played by Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, and Romany Malco, it’s hard to take advice from these fellas and actually follow through. Andy’ life gets a little more charming and funnier by the second in ‘The 40 Year-Old Virgin’.

Wednesday

Tomorrow Never Dies: Pierce Brosnan returns in his second James Bond film, this time to tackle the more modern day plot of media corruption and manipulation that takes the world to the brink of a nuclear war, all for better ratings. for twisted newspaper mogul Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce). With support from kick-ass Michelle Yeoh, the gorgeous Teri Hatcher and the imposing Gotz Otto as a poor man’s Jaws, along with series regulars Dame Judi Dench, Samantha Bond and Desmond Llewelyn, it’s another nice mix of actors and decent characters, even if they aren’t exactly groundbreaking by now. Backed by an exciting soundtrack by composer David Arnold, this is fast-paced, loud and action-packed Brosnan Bond film that does just what is says on the tin.

Thor: We leave Earth and explore the mythical world of Asgard in another Avenger introduction – this time it’s the God Of Thunders turn. Thor himself, played with entertaining arrogance and might by Chris Hemsworth. It’s a great return to the fantastical, comic-book world of Marvel that some of the earlier ones ignore for focus on modern reality. It was nice to see a Marvel film spend time to focus on these elements of mystical powers and mythical legend, all showcasing nifty CGI. Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Kat Dennings, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Rene Russo flesh out the godly cast and all have a blast in this multi-dimensional adventure that cements Thor’s future as an Avenger as he goes up against forces intent on destroying Earth, and Asgard, all in the name of power and glory.

The Babadook (FF): Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman play an unsettled mother and son in Jennifer Kent’s Australian psychological thriller, colliding with the most inventive and terrifying horror icon in years that even had William Friedkin’s spine tingling. Featuring a captivating and frightening manifestation of a damaged psyche with a ground-breaking display from Davis, Kent’s first feature film will leave you completely absorbed and wishing you had kept the lights on. The Aronofsky-styled ambient sounds and sinister imagery will relentlessly remind, you can’t get rid of… The Babadook.

A Dark Song (FF): The feature film debut of British writer/director Liam Gavin, ‘A Dark Song’ is an intensely thrilling black magic drama about a grieving young mother who hires an occultist to contact her dead son. What transpires is a unique and brutal supernatural thriller as two damaged souls search for meaning in life.

28 Days Later: Looking for your mid-week fix of Zombie chaos? Danny Boyle takes you back to basics in his game-changing addition to the flesh-eating franchise, putting Peaky Blinder’s star Cillian Murphy on the run across British soil from the pesky infected ones. Presented as brainy and character-driven with a killer soundtrack, Boyle creates a unique and isolated tale of survival opposing a deadly virus while showcasing an impressive London wasteland. A stripped-back and heart-racing chase that will leave you feeling tainted by the Rage virus.

Thursday

Drag Me To Hell: Before Sam Raimi’s foray into a mostly successful ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy, he was renowned for his horror-comedy filmmaking. ‘Evil Dead’, ‘Evil Dead II’, ‘Army of Darkness’ put Raimi comfortably into the horror film hall of fame. Post ‘Spider-Man’, he returned to make the criminally underrated and underseen ‘Drag Me To Hell’. Packed with genuinely scary horror sequences as well as some brilliantly gross moments, ‘Drag Me To Hell’ is a delight. Alison Lohman (who has in fact disappeared off the face of the earth since the making of ‘Drag Me To Hell’, ironically) is the unlucky soul having to deal with a supernatural curse and goes to great lengths to get rid of it with the help of her boyfriend Justin Long. What could have been a paint-by-numbers horror flick is imbued with a sense of charm thanks to the practical effects work Raimi is famous for, as well as his trademark black comedy streak that runs right through this film. You’ll laugh and you’ll likely scream, but ‘Drag Me To Hell’ is worth it, it takes hold of you right through to its final moment

Bruce Almighty: I’m not sure how universal this is, but I’m fairly certain as a product of the British school system, I’ve seen ‘Bruce Almighty’ more than most films. ‘Bruce Almighty’ was the staple end of term film choice for any and every Religious Education teacher, and despite this, ‘Bruce Almighty’ remains funny. Through a combination of a simple idea that asks us, the audience, to question what we would do with infinite power and a genuinely classic comedic performance from Jim Carrey, ‘Bruce Almighty’ just works. At this point, the scene in which Bruce messes with Evan Baxter’s (Steve Carell in an against-type bad guy role) script has gone down in film history is an all-timer that never fails to make me laugh out loud. If there’s anyone that hasn’t seen ‘Bruce Almighty’, you’re in for a treat. If you have, watch it again. I promise it’s as funny as you remember.

Tank 432 (FF): Award-winning camera operator on Ben Wheatley’s films, Nick Gillespie makes his feature length directorial debut in ‘Tank 432’, a psychological horror about a team of mercenary soldiers forced to hide out in an abandoned tank. It is a claustrophobic nightmare that doesn’t quite hit the mark it is aiming for, but is unsettling all the same.

Friday

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (FF): TBA

Candyman (FF): TBA

Resident Evil: Arguably the best, and most watchable entry of the franchise, Paul W.S Anderson’s ‘Resident Evil’ has the incredible Milla Jovovich in the role of Alice, who wakes up in a mansion with little to no recollection of who she is and how she got there. As events unfold, she learns of a virus outbreak in a secret facility in Raccoon City called ‘The Hive’, which Alice and a small team from the military must navigate to shut down the ‘Red Queen’, the computer system that controls the facility. It soon becomes clear that this virus turns it’s victims in flesh-eating zombies and the team fight to survive the onslaught of the undead as they try to prevent the virus from being spread across the world. With some great action sequences, and some memorable scenes, why not add this to your list of horror films to watch this month!

Saturday

No One Lives (FF): Starring the wonderful Luke Evans, ‘No One Lives’ is a gory serial-killer thriller with a twist, when a group of bandits kidnap a wealthy couple who are not as helpless as they appear. Let’s just say ‘No One Lives’ delivers on it’s title.

Aaaaaaaah!(FF): Written and directed by Steve Oram (star of ‘Sightseers’ and ‘A Dark Song’, also on this list), this debut is set in a post-apocalyptic future where humans never evolved beyond an ape-like state. A satire of modern life as the primates’ beastly behaviours never feel too far removed from humans of today, the cast communicate only in grunts and groans. With a biting British humour, starring Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, ‘Aaaaaaaah!’ is a must watch.

Sunday

Fright Night (FF): The film debut of now-legendary horror director Tom Holland, ‘Fright Night’ is an 80s teen horror classic, as a teenage boy learns his reclusive new neighbour is, in fact, a vampire. And he must rely on has-been TV vampire killer Peter Vincent, as played to perfection Roddy McDowell, to help him.. If you’re going to indulge in any vampire comedy this spooky season, make it this one.

Hiding Online / In Our Collection / Out This Week

The Mummy: As the film that was meant to kick off Universal’s ‘Dark Universe’ (after snubbing ‘Dracula Untold’, which was originally meant to be the start of this cinematic universe), ‘The Mummy’ failed to deliver a strong and promising start for this monster universe. If you didn’t catch it in the cinema, you can now rent or buy it from today! You can also read our verdict here.

Gifted: Chris Evans puts down his shield and steps into the shoes of loving uncle Frank, who is single handedly raising his niece Mary, played by the wonderfully talented Mckenna Grace. His niece is a child prodigy, but to give her the childhood every child deserves he has her attend a regular school, which fails to challenge his niece. When Mary’s Grandmother learns of her mathematical abilities, she begins a legal process for custody of Mary so she can enroll her into a school more suited for her abilities. ‘Gifted’ is a wonderful film, filled with fantastic performance from all the cast, and a touching story of trying to do what you think’s best. You can read our full review here.

Fate of the Furious: Vin Diesel and the ‘Fast and Furious’ family are back for another adrenaline fuelled sequel. This time, Charlize Theron joins the franchise as a hacker by the name of ‘Cypher’, who is able to blackmail Dom to turn against his family and work for her. But how far will the team go to stop Dom and and the terrorist organisation he’s now working for? Check out our full take on ‘Fate of the Furious’ here.

Like this:

Every Monday we will be recommending films that are on TV that week, films playing at the cinema, and also remind you of those brilliant films hiding on streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and possibly in your own collection.

In Cinemas

Blade Runner 2049: We know ‘Blade Runner 2049‘ made it in last week’s WTS post, but we implore you see this film at the cinema if you haven’t already!

The Mountain Between Us: Idris Elba and Kate Winslet are stranded after a tragic plane crash. They must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow covered mountain. ‘The Mountain Between Us’ opened in UK cinemas last Friday and our full review will up be up later this week!

On TV

Monday

Coyote Ugly (2000): A great feel-good romp following the fresh-faced ingenue; Violet (Piper Perabo) and her introduction to the world of wet and wild bar-top dancing. Whilst meant to be sexy and shocking at the time, it all feels curiously innocent now. Worth watching for an insight into early 2000s fashion and music (LeAnn Rimes) and some surprisingly good actors (Maria Bello, John Goodman, Melanie Lynskey). Strange to feel nostalgic for a film from this century, but it certainly feels like it belongs to a different era.

Mission Impossible 3 (2006): Witness the debut directoral effort of J.J Abrams as he gives plenty of bangs for your buck as Tom Cruise returns for his third outing as IMF agent Ethan Hunt; ready to save the world again with his allies Ving Rhames, Billy Crudup, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Simon Pegg and Maggie Q going up against the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. In a world where 007 was on the brink of being re-booted, this doesn’t break new ground for action films but keeps the foundations solid of what makes ‘Mission: Impossible’ so much fun – it’s entertaining and exciting with Abrams adding his spin on, what is really, a tried and tested genre to deliver a satisfying and comfortable third outing.

Tuesday

The Hurt Locker (2008): As far as war movies go, there’s not many more that supersede Kathryn Bigelow’s 2008 Oscar-winner ‘The Hurt Locker’; a thrilling, heart-stopping thriller. It’s superbly acted from its star-studded cast, and is also beautiful to look at; with Barry Ackroyd’s eye for detail resulting in his best work yet. A truly must see for all fans of the war genre, or for those with any interest in expert cinematography.

Judge Dredd (1995): Let’s just get this out of the way. This is a terrible movie, but somehow I still love it. If you are like me and like good bad movies then this is a must watch. ‘Judge Dredd’ was released way back in 1995. It was panned by critics and the Dredd fanboys were in uproar. ‘Judge Dredd’ was a very popular comic book which was published by 2000AD comics. It was their MVP and most popular character. A live action movie was always inevitable. How did this go so wrong? Danny Cannon was the man behind the camera and he cast Sly Stallone as the man under the famous helmet. Now you must remember back in 95 Stallone was one of the biggest actors on the planet. He had a lot sway in front of the camera and behind it. It was either his way or the highway. This meant Danny Cannon and Sly Stallone were always butting heads. Cannon wanted a dark, gritty film like the comics. Stallone wanted a fun, comedy action film. Stallone ultimately won the arguments and got his way. Turns out Stallone had never read any of the Dredd comics and boy does it show. Dredd wears his helmet all the time, he is never seen without it. In this adaptation he loses the helmet in the first 20 minutes! Poor dialogue, poor acting and a pretty thin story-line doesn’t help the cause at all. But if you could for one second forget that this is a Judge Dredd movie and enjoy it for what it is, a post apocalyptic sci-fi comedy action film, then it gets slightly better. The studio threw a lot of money at it and some of it stuck. For example some of the design and costume work is actually very good. Its all very colourful and shiny. Just sadly it’s not very good. But if you’ve had a long hard day and want to watch a movie where you don’t have to concentrate, then ‘Judge Dredd’ is the perfect choice for you.

Die Hard (1988): Is this a Christmas film or not? Good news – it’s both! You can watch it at Christmas AND any time of the year. 12 terrorists. 1 cop. An office skyscraper. That’s it. Bruce Willis goes up against the late, great Alan Rickman in this 1989 action classic; a solid example of how to do the genre right. It only made just over $140m at the box-office, but back when numbers didn’t dictate a film’s success, it was the simple story, memorable characters, well-staged balls-to-the-wall action, solid performances and bone-crunching dangerous stunt-work that helped define this as an action classic where less really is more, and it didn’t shy away from swearing, shooting and blowing things up for a really exciting and tense movie. Yippie-ki-yay mother f*word count exceeded*

Wednesday

Dracula Untold (2014): If you’re looking for peculiar stories of vampire reign and revived histories, here’s a film for you. Luke Evans stars in ‘Dracula Untold’ as Vlad the Impaler, the prince of Wallachia, and a previous child soldier who endured a dark, haunting journey to where he’s come. Vlad’s lifelong rival, Sultan Mehmed, played by an up and coming Dominic Cooper, is received by him with a great ultimatum: surrender him 1,000 Transylvanian child soldiers or pay the price for resistance. Vlad is known to stand by his people and do what is always best for them, but the time has come for him to see how far he’d go to protect his city. He seeks a certain strength that only an elder vampire beyond the mountain can provide. Catch Gary Shore’s feature film debut with the dark fantasy that is ‘Dracula Untold’.

Thursday

Step Brothers (2008): What better way to spend your evening than with a silly, wholly entertaining comedy starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as a pair of middle-aged men who are forced to live together when their parents move in together. A little absurd, but a whole lot of fun that’ll have you in stitches with Ferrell and Reilly’s constant childish bickering.

Friday

40 Year Old Virgin (2005): The film that kick-started Judd Apatow and Steve Carrell’s careers and opened them both up to a world beyond TV, it’s hard not to laugh at some of the excruciating awkwardness on offer here. I firmly believe Carrell is one of the best actors working today (The Big Short and Battle of the Sexes are recent examples of his dramatic acting), but this does not mean his earlier, more comedic work should be dismissed. He brings believable humanity to all of his roles and engenders empathy in the audience even when playing a seemingly ridiculous character. He also fully commits to his roles, as demonstrated in the infamous chest-waxing scene here. Still laugh out loud funny.

Machete (2010): Grindhouse alum Robert Rodriguez serves up a splatter platter of explosive violence and titillating action showcasing Danny Trejo as the vengeful Machete. A feast of revenge porn armed with relentless bullets, savage taglines and beautiful women, reestablishing the iconic style of B movies with ballsy style. Machete knows where you live if you dare to miss his show.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006): A chilly Meryl Streep causes headache for Anne Hathaway in this sharp and stylish comedy from director David Frankel, concentrating a hearty cast and priceless one-liners around the extravagant requirements of “The boss from hell”. A runway of sophistication and devilish drama with a dazzling breakout performance from Emily Blunt. You wouldn’t want to be late…

Hiding Online / In Our Collection / Out This Week

Unbreakable (2000): In the late 90s, M Night Shyamalan was revered as the next big thing when he released the phenomenon that was ‘The Sixth Sense’. Whatever you think of him now, Shyamalan managed to follow up his brilliant debut with, for my money, his best work to date. ‘Unbreakable’ stars Bruce Willis as a man who mysteriously survives a catastrophic train crash and discovers secrets about himself. To say much else would spoil the magic of what’s in store, but ‘Unbreakable’ is often considered as one of the genuinely great origin stories. Bruce Willis delivers a greatly reserved performance and Samuel L Jackson commands every scene, as expected. I wholly recommend you seek this one out if, like me, you loved his return to form in this year’s terrific ‘Split’.

The Hills Have Eyes (2006): The fearless revival of Wes Craven’s 1977 slasher establishes a keen modernisation of a classic in Alexandre Aja’s chilling pursuit of a vacationing family hunted by psychotic hillbillies. Emilie de Ravin and Ted Levine star in the harrowing battle for survival that maintains the outlandish terror of the original. Change the channel, they’re watching you.

Like this:

Every Monday we will be recommending films that are on TV that week, films playing at the cinema, and also remind you of those brilliant films hiding on streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and possibly in your own collection.

In Cinemas

Blade Runner 2049: Fans of the original have waited 35 years for a sequel to ‘Blade Runner’, and last week their wish was granted. It may not be receiving the best numbers at the box office, but fans and critics alike can’t help but share their love the this masterpiece. Our full review will be on site later today!

Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Whilst we know it’s not December yet, we thought we’d take this opportunity to remind you that tickets for ‘The Last Jedi’ go on sale Tuesday AM (UK), and with them comes a brand new trailer! We’ll have it up on site as soon as it hits the web!

The Mountain Between Us: Idris Elba and Kate Winslet are stranded after a tragic plane crash. They must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow covered mountain. ‘The Mountain Between Us’ opened in UK cinemas last Friday, and our full review will be up soon!

On TV

Monday

Se7en (1995): If you discount ‘Alien 3’ because, well, who wouldn’t, ‘Se7en’ was our introduction to a master filmmaker. David Fincher has blessed us with numerous films that rightfully earn their place on countless best films ever lists, though arguably none have managed to be as high on said lists as ‘Se7en.’ It’s a crime noir starring a pre-Fight Club and Morgan Freeman as they investigate a string of murders all based on the seven deadly sins. It’s a deceptively clever thriller that keeps you engaged, guessing, and shocked at some of the truly messed up ways the sins have been visualised as murder scenes. On a personal note, ‘Se7en’ is one of my favourite films of all time. This film can be watched and rewatched countless times and you will still find new things to love about it, right up until it’s brilliant, soul-crushing climax.

Tuesday

Southpaw (2015): Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, ‘Southpaw‘ is the gritty drama about a successful pro boxer who goes off the hinges after his wife is shot at a press event. Gyllenhaal delivers a strong and heavyweight performance as Billy “The Great’ Hope, a husband and father who wins titles in the ring, but ultimately loses himself outside. He’s on top of the world, beating opponents to a pulp with a fight fueled by anger. Hope must rehabilitate himself in order to take back his life and the custody of his daughter. Gyllenhaal’s character is aggressive and the onscreen punches are impressive. If you want something decent and gritty that isn’t afraid to throw punches, this is your film. Catch this knockout boxing drama on Film4 at 9pm.

Wednesday

Locke (2013): One of Tom Hardy’s most astonishing performances makes for an audacious film. Almost entirely a one-man monologue delivered over the course of a long night-time road trip. We watch as Locke slowly unravels and details of his career and personal life are revealed through a series of confessional phone conversations. Remarkable that this film was made at all and I’m very glad it was. Alongside ‘The Drop’ – one of Hardy’s best but underseen roles. Highly recommend.

Dirty Dancing (1987): An iconic soundtrack runs throughout this 80s classic, set in the 60s and telling the tale of a summer romance. Rich girl Baby meets bad boy and dirtier dancer Johnny and an illicit affair is sparked. Throw in a watermelon, a botched abortion and a corner where NOBODY puts Baby and you have one of the most quotable films of a generation. Again, if you haven’t seen it, why not? Rectify this immediately!

The Green Mile (1999): In the season of Stephen King adaptations, why not visit one of the most profound and heart-breaking? Tom Hanks (one of Hollywood’s most reliable actors) stars as Paul Edgecomb, who accompanies men down the ‘mile’, the walk cons take to the chair, to the death. When he meets the simple and naive John Coffey (played to perfection by Michael Clarke Duncan), a giant of a man accused of murdering two young girls, Paul begins to question John’s guilt.

Legally Blonde (2001): Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) has everything: hot shot law student boyfriend, top spot in a prestigious sorority house, a stellar fashion sense, and the most infectiously lovely personality. When her sure-to-be future husband unceremoniously dumps her for being too blonde, she is determined to win him back. Using her unstoppable willpower and wit, she gets into Harvard Law School, and brings all her charm, a splash of pink and her chihuahua with her. Riotously fun and positive, Legally Blonde is the perfect antidote to the darker nights.

Thursday

License to Kill (1989): Rewind 17 years before Daniel Craig made James Bond a badass, and you’ll find Timothy Dalton doing it just as good if not better this time in the darkest 007 film of all. Going up against drug baron Robert Davi with the aid of the kick-ass Carey Lowell, Dalton shoots, stabs, water-skis, parachutes and punches his way into the heart of a dangerous drug cartel to bring them down from the inside in a mission of revenge. Blistering action, brutal violence and a real film of it’s time. The world wasn’t ready for a darker 007. Well, they are now. Enjoy!

Titanic (1997):What can be said about the biggest film in the world? I can’t imagine there are many people left who haven’t seen it. It’s a classic tale of boy meets girl, girl meets enormous blue diamond, iceberg meets boat, floating door not big enough for two people. Despite all the cliches, the second half of the film is still quite thrilling and visually spectacular. Get it in your eyeballs.

Friday

GoldenEye (1995): The Cold War is over, but there are plenty of reasons for James Bond to thrill us in the wake of a 6 year absence from an early end to Timothy Dalton’s run in 1989. Old and new cast and crew come together to take 007 to new heights with classic elements laced with a new, modern twist. Pierce Brosnon re-introduces Bond to a new generation of fans going up against rogue agent Sean Bean from bringing the world to it’s knees with a hi-tech super-weapon. With death-defying stunts, loud action sequences, a rousing theme and all the martinis, girls and guns we’ve come to expect from 007, it’s a new era but one that proves nobody does it better still.

Last Action Hero (1993):The film that easily divides many Arnold Schwarzenegger fans, this is actually far cleverer than it appears and delves into the self-parodying track of spoofing the action genre and Hollywood in general. Director John McTiernan makes sure the action is played out tongue-in-cheek as we jump from inside the silver screen and beyond when Arnie goes up against villain Charles Dance. As long as the film is understood to be a mockery of the thing it tries to be, it comes across more enjoyable than if watched to be a serious actioner. And don’t worry, there are many Arnie one-liners a plenty here. “Iced that guy, to cone a phrase!”

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part I (2011): The Twilight Saga lives on with its second to last installment, based on the novel Breaking Dawn. Bella Swan, the average girl who fell hard for vampire stud Edward Cullen, gets married and soon becomes impregnated with a half-mortal, half-immortal child. Seen as a potential threat to the local wolf pack and humans, the Cullen family must help Bella survive her pregnancy, and protect their livelihood in Washington. The young Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson reprise their roles in this fairytale drama that grossed big box office numbers among book and film fans alike.Catch the popular endearing story on E4 at 9pm.

Gladiator (2000): It’s Friday, and we all know what that means. A cosy night in, all snuggled up in front of the TV with snacks aplenty. And what better way to spend your Friday evening by watching Ridley Scott’s epic ‘Gladiator’, a 155-minute spectacle that throws you into the gladiator pits of Ancient Rome. With mesmerising cinematography by John Mathieson and career-defining performances from Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, ‘Gladiator’ is an epic that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with other grand, cinematic spectacles like ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and ‘Ben-Hur’. A must-see.

Hiding Online / In Our Collection / Out This Week

Wonder Woman (2017): Yesterday we were treated to the final ‘Justice League’ trailer in which we saw Wonder Woman, along with Bruce Wayne, assemble the League to save the world. As of today, ‘Wonder Woman’ is yours to take home on DVD/Blu-ray in the UK! With it’s record breaking run at the box office almost complete, we can probably expect more records to be broken on her home release.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994): Allllrriigghhttyy then! 1994 was a very good year for Jim Carrey. During this breakout year he starred in not one, not two, but three comedy classics. Dumb and Dumber and The Mask were great for Carrey to showcase his talents, but Ace Ventura was the one that he really was allowed to let loose in. With his rubber face cranked up to 11 and his limbs in a non stop hurricane of madness, Ace is a character that Jim Carrey looked like he had the best time playing. It shines through in his performance. The premise is simple. Ace Ventura is hired by the Miami Dolphins to find their missing mascot, Snowflake the Dolphin. What follows is 87 minutes of pure 90s gold. With support from Courtney Cox and Sean Young, Jim Carrey’s Ace Ventura Pet Detective is an easy, fun comedy which will keep you entertained for all its duration. They don’t really make them like this anymore so catch it while you can.

Fast Five (2011): The Fast and Furious franchise, whether you love it or hate it, can be an entertaining breakaway from the mundaneness of everyday life. The absurd car chases, the improbable yet insanely fun shootouts, even the fast-paced fight sequences in which the franchise is renowned for is especially present in the fifth instalment; ‘Fast Five’. Arguably the best in the now 8-film series, ‘Fast Five’ is relentless in its presentation, and with the addition of Dwayne Johnson’s hulking Hobbs joining the rest of the charismatic roster, ‘Fast Five’ rejuvenated a franchise that most felt was on its way out. Popcorn entertainment has never looked so good, so be sure not to miss it!

The Notebook (2004): If you’re a hopeless romantic, the latest addition to the Netflix roster is for you. Adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel (king of the rom-com), The Notebook is a story of everlasting love told in two timelines. With notes of The Princess Bride (‘Always’) and Romeo & Juliet (forbidden love), the lead characters are so irresistible to root for. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as Noah and Allie bring to screen one of the most authentic representations of first love and teenage love, one that is sure to make you feel sentimental. Watch this under a blanket with a hot cup of cocoa.

Like this:

Every Monday we will be recommending films that are on TV that week, films playing at the cinema, and also remind you of those brilliant films hiding on streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and possibly in your own collection.

In Cinemas

Blade Runner 2049: Fans of the original have waited 35 years for a sequel to ‘Blade Runner’, and this week their wish is granted. After some glowing early reactions last week, and lots of high marking reviews (which we’re avoiding until we’ve seen the film!). ‘Blade Runner 2049’ hits UK cinemas this Thursday and the hype could not be any higher.

mother!: “One of the several trailers claims “you will never forget where you were the first time you saw Mother!” I definitely won’t. Never, and I mean never, has a film had me so on the edge of my seat, mouth agape, eyes unblinking, in the final act. It is a slow burn, that at it’s crescendo, will tear you apart. ‘Mother!’ may be the best film I won’t ever revisit; a dizzying experience that I will recommend to all at least once. ” – Read Sasha’s full review here and see ‘mother!’ before it leaves cinemas!

Kingsman: The Golden Circle: “‘The Golden Circle’ falls short of matching its predecessor, it’s still a lot of fun for fans of the original. There are ridiculous moments , very funny lines, great, silly action sequences, and it’s clear most of the cast are having a lot of fun, particularly Julianne Moore chewing the scenery as the big bad. If you love Kingsman like I do, you’re going to really enjoy this one. If you didn’t, it’s probably best you stay away.” – Rhys’ full review

On TV

Monday

The Da Vinci Code (2006): A film you either love or hate, this proved unpopular with critics but a huge hit with the public, amassing over $700m at the box-office, obviously boosted by the global acclaim from Dan Brown’s novel which introduced a gripping, thought-provoking thriller that delved into history, shook it up and spat it back out. Tom Hanks is ever likeable in the role of Robert Langdon, doing this best to think, frown and plot his way through a hefty running time that starts from the 1st minute and doesn’t end until the 143rd. The beautiful Audrey Tautou, the wonderful Ian McKellen, the eerie Paul Bettany and fierce Jean Reno all add to the great supporting cast and replicate their literal characters perfectly with the right amount of menace, intelligence, danger and emotion. There is no denying it’s a very intelligent film, combining a fair amount of cat-and-mouse action that keeps that lingering threat present. With wonderful locations and set-design taking us from inside the Louvre to the historic Temple Church in London and a hauntingly beautiful score by Hans Zimmer, words aren’t always needed to paint a picture of sheer wonder as it unravels before you.

Johnny English (2003): Rowan Atkinson stars as the oddly beloved spy, Johnny English, whose absurd antics get him caught up in some messy situations. English is put on assignment to stop the stealing of the Crown Jewels on display at the Tower of London. Along the way, he manages to put his mission in peril, because that's Johnny English for you! Peter Howitt directs this spy parody of a flick, and if Atkinson’s past roles have taught us anything, it's to never put your trust on the dopey guy! See Atkinson channel his inner comedy from his days of being Mr. Bean! Catch Johnny English
on E4 at 8pm!

Tuesday

22 Jump Street (2014): How do you follow up what’s genuinely considered as one of the best comedies of the decade? By sticking to the formula, and owning it. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum return as the unlikely buddy cop duo and are as funny as each other, with great chemistry and boasting the bromance to end all bromances. On top of that, returning directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller are well aware the film is similar to the first, and let us in on that joke too. 22 Jump Street is a hilarious, meta trip through a buddy cop comedy that is arguably even funnier than its predecessor. Make sure you stick around for the credits. You won’t regret it.

Wednesday

Troy (2004): From the surprise sword and sandal epic ‘Gladiator’ in 2000, it paved the way for many more to follow. One such outing is the Wolfgang Petersen helmed ‘Troy’ starring Brad Pitt as Greek warrior Achilles, Eric Bana as Trojan Prince Hector and Orlando Bloom as Paris. With sun-kissed skin a plenty, bulging biceps and plenty of rugged good looks, history never looked so flawless as it does here – but enough of that, this is a brutal, bold and brilliantly told story about the Greek war with Troy and the myths that were born from it. A stellar supporting cast, some lavish costumes and well-staged sword fights and action sequences make this a fair old slog, but one that takes its time to craft and tell a character-based story. For fans of ancient history and big budget movies, this is a must and a far better offering than many others of the genre.

American Heist (2014): Adrien Brody stars as Frankie, a man fresh out of prison and ready to relentlessly drag his little brother back into the kind of mess that got him locked up. They brothers reunite upon Frankie’s release only to partake in the biggest and last heist, for old time’s sake. We see Hayden Christensen gracing the screen as younger brother James. With the action and elements of pensive dramas, American Heist is an indie action flick most will find to be a guilty pleasure of sorts. Get into the madness of American Heist airing on Sony at 11pm.

American Honey (2016): Despite its 2 hr 45 min runtime, let this woozy, hazy, dreamlike film wash over you and take you on a road trip across America. Set amongst a ragtag bunch of very young travelling magazine salespeople, this film from British director Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank) features a mesmerising central performance from Sasha Lane. Shia LaBeouf proves once again that he does have the acting chops, away from his erratic personal life. Riley Keough also impresses amongst the ensemble. This film is definitely worth the significant time investment.

Thursday

Godzilla (1998): The year is 1998 and coming off the back of major hits such as ‘Stargate’ and ‘Indepenace Day’, the king of disaster movies Roland Emmerich had set his sights on his next project; the remake of the much loved Japanese monster movie ‘Godzilla’. With an estimated budget of 130 million dollars and huge backing from the studio, Godzilla was meant to be the next big thing. What actually happened was a mauling from the critics and fans alike. Starring the likes of Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno and Hank Azaria, it had an odd cast. Godzilla for me is a massive amount of fun, greatly under-rated and is misunderstood. It has some great set pieces and the special effects just about hold up. It also has a real gem of a soundtrack, with Puff Daddy, Jamiroquai, Green Day and the Foo Fighters who put in some massive tunes. In Short ‘Godzilla’ is a big, bold, fun, easy watching flick. It deserves a second chance if you haven’t seen it since it came out.

Friday

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991): This is hands down my favourite adaptation of the Robin Hood lore. Yes, maybe the pacing is a little slow in the middle and it’s jarring having Robin Hood speak with an American accent BUT, on the whole, it’s fun, enjoyable and features some great action and acting talent overall including the late Alan “Cancel Christmas!” Rickman, Morgan Freeman and Mary Elizabeth Manstrantonio. Kevin Costner is a fine Robin Hood. He certainly can make shooting an arrow look undeniably cool, and he has a real everyman approach to being the hero who must lead men to victory whilst dealing with affairs of the heart. And I never get tired seeing him fire the arrow on fire in glorious slow-motion in front of a wall of flame. It uses that heroic swashbuckling feel of Errol Flyn, splicing with a modern Hollywood budget to make this telling look and feel real, with memorable performances, lavish sets, a rousing soundtrack and brilliant stunt-work. It’s probably the best adaptation of the Robin Hood myth we’ve got, and that’s certainly not a bad thing for a film that is as enjoyable and fun as this. And if Sean Connery lends himself for a cheeky, un-credited cameo, what’s not to enjoy?

Black Hawk Down (2001): Featuring an insanely starry cast; everyone from Ewan McGregor and Josh Hartnett (swoon), to a very early Tom Hardy performance – this tense ensemble war drama is beautifully shot and well edited. Telling the story of a disastrous helicopter mission into the heart of Mogadishu in 1993, which led to 100 US soldiers being in a gripping stand-off with hundreds of heavily-armed Somalis. This is one of the few great modern war films.

Hiding Online / In Our Collection / Out This Week

Pirates of the Carribean: Salizar’s Revenge (2017): More un-dead villains, more mystical artefacts, more ship battles, a few sword fights, more young love interests, more double crosses, more CGI. More, more, more. They try to get bigger and better in their action set-pieces, and just when they seem to achieve it, the CGI comes out to enhance everything and ruins it to become silly. The guillotine sequence for one has a nice little comical moment, but it’s ruined by the dumb slapstick. Javier Bardem is under-used, Geoffrey Rush is having fun at least still, and Johnny Depp phones in a performance that literally makes Jack Sparrow look inept – he’s more a clown than a pirate, and it’s a shame to see him resort to so much buffoonery. It’s not the worst POTC film, but that doesn’t say much. More akin to the original than the sequels, but just as bloated and far-fetched. The franchise is tired and now can be tied up, but knowing Disney, if this makes serious cash, then they’ll crank out a 6th in no time. Read our full review here..

Wonder Woman (2017): Whilst it may not be out on DVD and Blu-Ray until next week, ‘Wonder Woman’ is available to buy digitally in the UK. ‘Wonder Woman’ took the world by storm this year and is now highest grossing superhero origin film of all time and the second highest grossing film this year, after Disney’s live-action ‘Beauty and the Beast’. You can read our full review from earlier this year.

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Every Monday we will be recommending films that are on TV that week, films playing at the cinema, and also remind you of those brilliant films hiding on streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and possibly in your own collection.

IN CINEMAS

mother!: Splitting the opinions of film fans across the globe, and performing poorly because of it, Darren Aronofsky’s ‘mother!’ is definitely one we recommend going to see for yourself. Our review will be up later today!

Kingsman: The Golden Circle: Eggsy is suited and booted in this sequel to Matthew Vaughn’s surprise hit ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’. Vaughn is back in the director’s chair for the sequel that promises to be bigger, better, and more bat-shit crazy than the first! When the Kingsman organisation comes under attack from an unknown enemy, Eggsy and Merlin head stateside to seek the help of the Statesmen, an allied spy organisation. ‘The Golden Circle’ hits cinemas on Wednesday, and we’ll have our review up later this week.

ON TV

MONDAY

Wanted (2008):Bullets, beatings and bloody badassery, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman star alongside a radiant Angelina Jolie in Nightwatch/Daywatch alum Timur Bekmambetov’s racy thrillfest, following an unsatisfied Wesley, whose life turns around when he’s awakened to his superhuman ancestry of assassins. If hyperbolic stunts with titillating energy is your weapon of choice, Wanted will leave you wanting more. Don’t miss the target on Sky1 at 9pm.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2014): Witness the beginning of one of the great trilogies of the 21st centuries. Andy Serkis begins his journey as Ceaser, an amazing creation of special effects and motion capture that raised the bar for what performance capture can achieve. If you can stomach Tom “Draco Malfoy” Felton’s shaky American accent, it’s a brilliant ride as we witness Ceaser’s rise to sentience. You’ll never forget the moment Ceaser finally snaps.

TUESDAY

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014):I don’t say this lightly as it has some excellent competition, but as far as I’m concerned, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the finest action film of the decade so far. Moving further into the future and well into the Ape uprising, tensions are rife between human and ape. Gary Oldman leads the human revolt while Jason Clarke is the ape-sympathiser trying to burn ape-human bridges. Toby Kebbell also joins the party as the conflicted Koba, a more well-written character than any CGI creature has any right to be. The action from the previous film ramps up to 11, as the ape onslaught of the human HQ has an all-time great long shot on top of a tank. Apes. Together. Strong.

Hot Fuzz (2007): “Wait, didn’t you recommend ‘Hot Fuzz’ last week?” Yes.. Yes we did, and seeing as it’s on TV again this week we thought we’d give you folks a second chance to catch Edgar Wright’s ‘Hot Fuzz’ if you missed it! Grab a drink, get comfy, and prepare for the laughs as Nicholas Angel (Simong Pegg) and Danny Butterman (Nick Frost) uncover a quaint little village’s dark secret.

WEDNESDAY

Diamonds are Forever (1971):Why this is generally slated as much as it is? I don’t understand. There are worse James Bond films out there for sure. It’s probably a little more light-hearted and “fun” than previous films and edging into the territory that Roger Moore successfully broke away from the darker spy thrillers of the 60s, but Sean Connery is such a welcome sight as James Bond after George Lazenby. For an older Bond, we still see him in lots of the action scenes and to be honest he looks like he’s enjoying himself a lot more. Jill St John is our Bond girl, Charles Gray is our Bond Blofeld, and we’ve got everything else you can check of your list. Welcome back, Mr Bond.

Filth (2013): Are you looking for that edgy high in film? Look no further than Jon S. Baird’s ‘Filth.’ It follows Bruce Robertson, a cop who would take scathing measures to secure his own success. James McAvoy pierces through his soul in this film as Bruce, with such a high calibre of acting and intensity. Driven by constant hallucinations and crippling addictions with substances and people, his character is faced with the task of investigating the murder of a Japanese exchange student, in hopes it will bring him that shiny promotion. But not all is sweet and dandy here. ‘Filth’ is that no-holds-barred thriller you’ve been waiting to see! Catch the scathing ‘Filth’ on Film4 at 11:30pm

THURSDAY

Hook (1991):This family adventure film is directed by Steven Spielberg and acts as a sequel to J. M. Barrie’s 1911 novel ‘Peter and Wendy’, now focusing on a grown-up Peter who has forgotten his Neverland adventures. Known as Peter Banning, he is a successful corporate lawyer with a wife and two children. However, his old enemy Captain Hook kidnaps his children, forcing Peter to return to Neverland and remember the boy he once was.With some wonderfully imaginative sets, costumes and characters, this is a fantasy story for everyone to enjoy. Great, performances from all the cast like the late Robin Williams and Bob Hoskins, Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts make it great fun to watch. Give this a go, as it’s a swashbuckling adventure the likes you’ve never seen before.

21 Jump Street (2012):Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are cops. Average cops. When they are recruited by the Jump Street unit to go undercover in a high school, they must trade in their guns for backpacks, and revisit their teenage angst and humiliation. A re-imagining of sorts of the original series (with a super meta reference in the film), 21 Jump Street is riotous fun.

FRIDAY

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996):Back in the mid nineties two directors were just starting to make a name for themselves. Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez were the hottest names in town. Tarantino was getting high praise for ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘Reservoir Dogs’. Rodriguez was just coming off the back of ‘Desperado’. Here the two very talented filmmakers team up to write and direct this stone cold cult classic. Starring a host of now well known names such as George Clooney, Juliette Lewis, Salma Hayek and Harvey Keitel, they all put in top drawer performances. Clooney is the definition of cool and oozes star power. What you think is going to be a straight forward crime thriller takes a sharp left turn and rapidly changes into a completely different movie. This is a genre bending thrill ride which packs laughs with a whole heap of blood, guts and violence.

Take Home This Week

Colossal:Gloria (Anne Hathaway) is a unemployed party girl whose life is spiraling out of control. When her dreamy boyfriend Tim (Dan Stevens) calls an end to their relationship, she gives up on New York and returns to her home town. Meanwhile, in Seoul, another destructive being has returned to terrorise the streets, giant monster style! Coincidence? Absolutely not! Colossal is a sci-fi black comedy with a deep metaphor for abusive relationships that simply should not be missed.

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Every Monday we will be recommending films that are on TV that week, films playing at the cinema, and also remind you of those brilliant films hiding on streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and possibly in your own collection.

In Cinemas

IT: The highly anticipated ‘IT’, the second Stephen King adaptation to grace our cinemas this year, released last week and is already breaking records worldwide! We’ll have our review up later today!

Wind River: Last week we posted up Rhys’ review of Wind River, in which he says “Sheridan has set himself an improbably high standard to exceed with his next film”. We highly recommend checking it out at the cinema this week if creepy killer clowns aren’t your thing!

On TV

Monday

Prometheus (2012): Up for a mind-bending Sci-Fi flick this evening? If so, make sure you catch ‘Prometheu’s, Ridley Scott’s enigmatic and divisive return to the ‘Alien’ franchise. Delving deep into the mythology and lore of the ‘Alien’ universe, Scott’s ‘Prometheus’ is a story of creation and the origins of mankind. Whilst it lacks the scare-factor evident in the original ‘Alien’, this prequel will immerse you by its many, many mysteries. Whether you’ll love it or hate it, you will need to watch it at 9pm on Film4 to find out.

Home Alone (1990): With plenty of silly moments and wonderfully funny set pieces, courtesy of the famous booby-trapped finale, this delivers lots of heart in a story full of witty and charming moments. It made an international star out of Macaulay Culkin, and it’s easy to see why at just 8 years old by carrying the film pretty much on his one. With a toe-ta[pping festive soundtrack, wonderful performances from all including our “Wet Bandits” Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern – who has THE best scream in cinema – this is real innocent family fun. But shame on you for watching it in September. Hethen! Save it for mid-November to December at least, ya filthy animal.

Tuesday

The Secret of My Success (1987): Tune in for a slice of 80s fun in the male version of ‘Working Girl’, as Michael J Fox attempts to sleep his way to the top in ‘The Secret of My Success’. As usual with 80s fare, there’s some crazily fantastic fashion, decor and music on display. This film is really funny and relies on the charm of Fox as he wrestles with his conscience, leading to a heart-warming, feel-good conclusion. Like all 80s classics, this is comfort food for the soul. To learn the secret be sure to tune in to ITV2 at 9pm!

Wednesday

Hot Fuzz (2007): At this point, every film fan has had a conversation about which Edgar Wright film is their favourite. Some will say ‘Shaun of the Dead’, some will say ‘Scott Pilgrim’, and I’m sure some will now say ‘Baby Driver’. Me? It will always be ‘Hot Fuzz’. ‘Hot Fuzz’ is everything that makes Edgar Wright great. It’s hilarious, it has a brilliant cast of characters, it’s fabulously written, and it has many moments that I can remember beat for beat. Also, as great as he is in most things, Nick Frost is never better than he is as Danny Butterman, yeah motherfuckerrrrrr. Catch ‘Hot Fuzz’ on ITV2 at 10pm

The Ladykillers (1955): Five oddball criminals rent out a room in a house owned by a an old lady by the name of Mrs Wilberforce, where they pretend to be musicians. Here, they attempt to plan a bank robbery, but they find Mrs Wilberforce is a force to be reckoned with and things do not go to plan! This is a classic that everyone needs to see at least once. It has a brilliant cast, with the likes of Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers starring. Watch the robbery plans unfold on Film4 at 12pm.

Thursday

Mr and Mrs Smith (2005): Imagine keeping your secret life of an assassin a secret from your spouse, only to learn they are doing the exact same thing… Well, that’s exactly what happens when John (Brad Pitt) and Jane Smith (Angelina Jolie) are contracted to kill one another and learn they’re both hiding the same secret. Of course, the professionals that they are, the pair plan on fulfilling their contracts and killing the other, but that may not be as easy as they’d planned on it being. Watch the bullet-fest marriage counselling session at 10pm on 5*.

Meet the Fockers (2010): Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller come face to face again in the sequel to 2000’s ‘Meet the Parents’. This time, it’s the the Byrnes’ turn to meet the other side of the family, the Fockers. Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand are Bernie and Rozalin Focker, and hilarity ensues as the two families, who are complete opposites, are forced to spend time with one another for the sake of their children. You can meet the Fockers on Comedy Central at 9pm.

Friday

Pitch Perfect (2012): Every few years or so there comes a “chick flick” which easily manages to transcend that annoyingly gender specific term. We had ‘Clueless’, ‘Mean Girls’, ‘Easy A’, and now ‘Pitch Perfect’ is able to join that elite pantheon. Making the world of competitive collegiate acapella somehow the coolest thing ever, ‘Pitch Perfect’ has great songs, great comedic performances, and a surprising amount of heart. It ticks some of the gross-out humour boxes without ever going too far and is consistently rewatchable. Give it a try, you might just find yourselves surprised. Tune in 9pm on Film4!

Legend (2015): Love a bit of Tom Hardy? If so, make yourself a cup of tea, get your jammies on and jump on the sofa, because tonight you’re going to see two of him in ‘Legend’, A biopic exploring the Kray twins’ criminal hold over London. Starring Hardy as both Reggie and Ronald Kray, ‘Legend’ is driven by its exciting performances and the overwhelming amount of fun to be had, from its explosive fight sequences and hilarious dialogue (“it’s a fucking rolling pin”). You’ll have a ball with this one, I guarantee it, so flick over to Film4 at 9pm

Hiding Online / In Our Collection / Out This Week

Mindhorn (2017): His time has finally come! ‘Mindhorn’ is available to take him this week, and you’d be a sucker not to pick it up. Julian Barrett has been a long time favourite of mine, from his time as Howard Moon in ‘The Mighty Boosh’, and more recently as Maurice in Channel 4’s ‘Flowers’. Barrett’s character, Richard Thorncroft, is an actor who played an 80’s detective in a hit TV show that time forgot, and is called to play the character once again after a murder suspect the police are chasing will only talk to Mindhorn, who he thinks is a real detective. Thorncroft see’s this as the perfect opportunity to get his career back on track, and get his name in the news. ‘Mindhorn’ is simply British comedy at it’s finest and definitely one I’ll be picking up.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017): The second outing for the Guardians is out on home release this week, and it’s a mixed bag. Some of the characters are a little flat and just there for the sake of it, and some of the humour feels shoe-horned in and rather naff, but there is much to be enjoyed to counter the negatives. It’s a popcorn movie at heart that doesn’t fail in setting up more for us to follow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe while expanding on the ‘GOTG’ series as a whole with new characters and new worlds. Plus, with the likes of Kurt Russell, Sylvester Stallone and….David Hasselhoff?….in tow, you can’t go far wrong. It’s daft, bright, visually spinning stuff so don’t expect anything groundbreaking and you’ll be ok.

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Every Monday we will be recommending films that are on TV that week, films playing at the cinema, and also remind you of those brilliant films hiding on streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and possibly in your own collection.

In Cinemas

IT: The highly anticipated ‘IT’, the second Stephen King adaptation to grace our cinemas this year, is released on Thursday! It’s been 27 years since we last saw Pennywise on screen, but this time he looks like he’ll really be inducing nightmares. We’ll have our review up early next week.

Logan Lucky: Another film wereviewed last week, Soderbergh’s ‘Logan Lucky’ hit cinemas at the end of last month and you’d be a fool to miss this one. With Adam Driver, Channing Tatum, and Daniel Craig delivering the charm and laughs, we think this is a must-see this month.

On TV

Monday

Star Trek (1979): This 1979 sci-fi feature film debut for the crew of the USS Enterprise was made out of an un-used TV pilot. So with ready made costumes, sets and props, a film was green lit to rival ‘Star Wars’ and prove that Trekkies weren’t out of the space film race yet! This isn’t the easiest of watches, I warn you. It’s very slow, very of it’s time and very un-eventful. BUT it paved the way for twelve sequels, multiple new TV shows and a fan base to rival that of the Jedi. With the cast of the original 60s show back, you’re in good company, but don’t expect anything to knock your socks off JUST yet in the early voyages of Captain James T Kirk. Beam up on SyFy at 9pm

Unbreakable (2000):Still the best Shyamalan movie (in my humble opinion of course), ‘Unbreakable’ is also one of the most unassuming “superhero” films as well, with fascinating characters and an interesting narrative. With standout performances from Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis, and with the recently announced sequel to ‘Unbreakable’ in the pipeline, what better time to watch it than right now…or this week at least!

Tuesday

Gladiator (2000):The 2000 film that came from nowhere proved to be one of Hollywood’s biggest gambles – a genre that was pretty much dead in the water, leading actor Russell Crowe who was yet to break the big time and a story set in ancient history. ‘Gladiator’ did what it set out to do; redefine the historical epic, shine a light on a forgotten and fascinating culture and showcase top acting and crew talent for a thrilling, rousing and dramatic story of a Roman general who became a slave, who became a gladiator who then defied an Empire. It is quality film-making and it’s all presented in such a bombastic way that it hasn’t been bettered since and given us more swords and sandal epics than we deserve. Be entertained on Film4 at 9pm

Blades of Glory (2007): In 2007, Will Ferrell tried his hand at figure skating. If that sounds ridiculous, it’s because it is. What it also is, though, is a frequently funny romp that gives us some hilarious set-pieces, a brilliantly silly chase scene, and some surprisingly well thought out skating routines. Keep and eye out for the scene-stealing Will Arnett and Amy Poehler as the Van Waldenberg siblings, but the real stars are Will Ferrell (as funny as he’s ever been) and Jon Heder (the straight man to Ferrell’s joker who still has a fair few great lines of his own) as the two polar opposites are forced to work together. Witness the hilarity on Comedy Central at 9pm

Wednesday

Godzilla (1998):Roland Emmerich unleashes the Japanese created sumo-lizard in New York City, carrying the tag line “Size Does Matter” in perfect 90’s fashion. Matthew Broderick and Jean Reno give chase to the monster along with a group of baffled scientists and military personnel with plenty of comic relief. Buildings will shake if you forget the fish at 9pm on Sony Channel.

V for Vendetta (2005):The year is 2028. The United Kingdom is a fascist police state, with political opponents, Jews, Muslims, atheists, immigrants, homosexuals and other “undesirables” executed. Hugo Weaving is the mysterious V, an anarchist and freedom fighter, wearing the infamous Guy Fawkes mask. Natalie Portman is Evey, a young woman who is recruited into V’s revolution. ‘V for Vendetta’ is THE dystopian political thriller to watch. And has never felt more ‘on the nose’ than in our current political climate. Be sure to join the revolution on SyFy at 9pm

Thursday

Kick-Ass 2 (2013): The follow up to the excellent ‘Kick-Ass’, about a young man called Dave (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who puts on a mask to become Kick-Ass, an adequate crime-fighter. Chloe Grace Moretz reprises her role as the fowl-mouthed ultra-violent Hit Girl, with added Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes. Throw in a new villain in Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and a supporting cast of loveable misfits, and Kick-Ass 2 is a fun grounded comic book movie that subverts expectations. Film4 at 11:25pm is the place to be.

Friday

Resident Evil (2002): Up for a solid horror movie on a Friday night? Then look no further than Paul W.S. Anderson’s ‘Resident Evil’, the adaptation to the terrifying video-game series that scared millions. Whilst critics mostly panned the movie for its video-game aesthetic, it’s by far the best entry to the 7-film franchise. Catch Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez in the film that kick started the franchise at 10pm on 5*

Trainspotting (1995):Danny Boyle’s magnus opus ‘Trainspotting’, a masterclass of filmmaking that’ll have you immersed for its entirety. Follow Renton and his gang into the Edinburgh drug scene and all the grotesque imagery that comes with it, and with terrific performances from an incredible ensemble cast, this is a must see. You can catch this cult classic on Film4 at 1am.

This is England (2006): One of the best British films of the 21st century, This is England introduced the world to some exemplary world-class actors; Vicky McClure, Joe Gilgun and Stephen Graham among them. It is a hard-hitting and a difficult watch at times, but Midlands-based writer/director Shane Meadows always undercuts the drama with humour as well. This film tracks the ‘rise’ of a gang of skinheads in the 1980s, covering the music and fashion, as well as the much darker neo-Nazi side. Of course, this subject is unfortunately relevant today. If you do tune in to watch this film for the first time, I also highly recommend the TV series that followed. The acting is astonishing and heart-breaking. Catch the film on Film4 at 9pm

Hiding Online / In Our Collection

The Expendables 3 (2014):This is a fair entry into the series, but nowhere near as enjoyable as the second, and a very mediocre offering saved by seeing so many familiar faces clearly having a blast on screen. Ignore the youngsters if you can and just wait for the pay-off. With a cast including the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Terry Crewes and more, you know the bang for your buck you’re gonna get! But it’s a little more…family friendly this time, which is a shame. If you enjoy this, I urge you to revisit the second film from 2012 which, to me, is the stand-out of this current trilogy.

Men in Black (1997):Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones star as the relentless duo assigned to “Protect Earth from the Scum of the Universe.” Slick and comical with timeless entertainment and notorious Sci-Fi creatures, director Barry Sonnenfeld delivers an instant classic with charming wit and suave action built around a plethora of cool-as-they-get gadgets. Head over to Netflix and keep a hold of your memories.

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This week we’re excited to re-launch our weekly feature – Watch This Space. Every Monday we will be recommending films that are on TV that week, films playing at the cinema, and also remind you of those brilliant films hiding on streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and possibly in your own collection.

In Cinemas

Rough Night: This female-led comedy finally released in the UK last Friday, with most territories getting it in June and July. You can read Fiona’s review here, in which she calls it “an enjoyable night at the cinema“.

Logan Lucky: Can Jimmy Logan shake his family’s bad luck and pull off a $14 million heist? Corey shares his thought’s in a brand new review coming later today. We’ll update this article with a link when it’s up.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (3D Special): Arnie is back! ‘Terminator 2: Judgement Day’ has been digitally enhanced and for one day only will be screening in 3D in cinemas across the UK. The film originally released in cinemas in 1991 and is back for old fans and new to enjoy on the big screen. We’ll have a special review up later this week!

On TV

Monday

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994): Tune in to this British rom-com classic from the 90s for sharp-scripted silliness from Richard Curtis. Yes – the film is centred around bumbling, floppy-haired Hugh Grant, but it’s the eccentric ensemble that make this film both hilarious and heartfelt. If you’ve not seen it before, where have you been? If you have seen it before – cheer yourself up by surrounding yourself with a familiar group of friends and letting it wash over you like a warm bath. Tune into this classic on Film4 at 9pm.

Footloose (1984):Kick off those Sunday shoes and go crazy for this 80s classic with a toe-tapping soundtrack and some eye-watering fashion choices. Kevin Bacon makes an appealing central character, backed up by a supporting cast that includes early Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris Penn. John Lithgow is the standout as the preacher who has declared a Southern town to be a “no-dance” zone and if you think the rebellious teenagers are going to take that lying down, then you’re mistaken! Brighten up your life with this cheesy feel-good caper. 5Star thinks you’ll love it so much that they’re playing it twice, the first beginning at 7pm, and the second straight after at 8:20pm.

Tuesday

Shaun of the Dead (2004): Edgar Wright’s debut feature and first entry to his Cornetto trilogy – ‘Shaun of the Dead’, stars the hilarious duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. ‘Shaun’ simultaneously pays homage to and parodies the ‘of the Dead’ films from the late George A. Romero in a way that is both exciting and easy on the eye. It’s truly a must-see, and you can catch it on ITV2 at 9:00pm.

Snakes on a Plane (2006):Samuel L. Jackson says enough is enough, he’s had it with the “MOTHERFUCKING SNAKES ON THIS MOTHERFUCKING PLANE”.. Need I say more? Okay, I will.. David R. Ellis’ ‘Snakes on a Plane’ gained considerable hype before the film released in cinemas 11 years ago, and despite how quickly that hype died down once it hit cinemas, I challenge you to find anyone who doesn’t know THAT line from the film. You can swear your heart out with Jackson from 9pm on Sky1.

Wednesday

About Time (2013):Combining a romantic comedy with some light science-fiction may be a somewhat bizarre mix, but Richard Curtis’ ‘About Time’ is, for my money, one of the finest romcoms of the last decade. With winning performances from the whole cast, a great sense of humour, bags full of heart, and a very fun time travel twist, it’s hard not to fall in love with the film from the very first scene. Fair warning though, Domnhall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams will ruin your base expectations of boyfriends and girlfriends for life.You can catch ‘About Time’ on Film4 at 6:40pm

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011):This undervalued and overlooked origin story within the MCU has suffered from being overshadowed by its sequels, particularly ‘The Winter Soldier’. In my opinion, The First Avenger is the superior film. With its World War Two setting, Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter and some great CGI (the wimpyfying of Chris Evans is fantastic) – ‘The First Avenger’ is one of the highlights of the MCU. If the rumours about the upcoming Infinity War are true, perhaps you should take the chance now to remind yourself of Cap’s shining greatness before shizz gets real dark. The action begins 9pm on Film4!

Thursday

Superman (1978):You’ll believe a man can fly all over again. Richard Donnor directs the original comic-book adaptation- 1978’s ‘Superman: The Movie’. In a time before the superhero genre churned out by the book, CGI dazzling and star-studded movies year after year, travel back to more innocent, more family-friendly era with Christopher Reeve as the greatest Man Of Steel ever. A soaring soundtrack by John Williams and a wonderful cast and story help bring Superman to life in one of the most iconic, original and memorable super-hero films you all need to see. You’ll want to switch to ITV4 at 4pm to see Reeve’s in action!

Predator (1987):You can see how great Arnold Schwarzenegger is as an action and comedy star when you remember one year after shooting up the jungle in ‘Predator’, he was playing simple-minded Julius opposite Danny DeVito in ‘Twins’. But I digress. No family-friendly comedy here. It’s just balls to the wall action and suspense to the highest level when Arnie and his tobacco chewing, machine gun toting, foul-mouthed squad turn from hunter to hunted, going up against the alien life-form known as The Predator. With direction from John McTiernan, special effects from Stan Winston and support from the likes of Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura and the late Sonny Landham, this is classic Schwarzenegger – when you’ve finished watching, don’t forget to “GET TO THE CHOPPA!”. Get in on the action on Film4 starting at 10:45pm

Friday

Inception (2010): This one is a no brainer… It’s on TV this week, therefore you need to watch it! Christopher Nolan assembles an impressive cast, which includes the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy and Marion Cotillard, and if that line-up alone doesn’t sell it then you’re still in for a treat. Nolan keeps your full attention for the entirety of the film’s 2 and a half hour runtime, as we venture from dream to dream and watch DiCaprio and his team attempt to plant an idea in the mind of a CEO by using their dream-sharing technology.

Role Models (2010): Having recently watched this film again, I can whole-heartily say that this film is still as funny as it was 7 years ago. Paul Rudd and Sean William-Scott are sentenced to community service and are sent to ‘Sturdy Wings’, an organisation that pairs children with adults to help build friendships. Rudd and Scott meet their matches when paired with Augie (a LARPing geek) and Ronnie (a foul-mouthed youngster), and hilarity ensues. The fun takes place over on 5Star at 11:15pm.

Hiding Online / In Our Collection

Kill Bill – Vol I and II (2003, 2004): Do yourself a favour and watch Tarantino’s masterpieces, featuring one of cinema’s greatest creations – Uma Thurman’s The Bride. The first is the all-action, kung fu heavy whirlwind featuring mind-blowing set pieces such as the House of Blue Leaves. The second is a different beast, exploring The Bride’s relationship with the titular Bill, a tour de force by David Carradine. Choosing which is better out of the two is a Sophie’s Choice for me. Do yourself a favour and watch both. Both films arrive on Netflix September 1st

Dead Poets Society (1989): O Captain My Captain. A tender central performance by Robin Williams can get a little schmaltzy at times, but this coming-of-age poetic film is worth your time for some classic lines and heart-warming scenes. The ensemble cast of High School students is a “who’s who” of current film and TV, Ethan Hawke, House’s Robert Sean Leonard and The Good Wife’s Josh Charles all got their breakthroughs here. As an English teacher, I have to say I aspire to the level of inspiration William’s Mr Keating brings to his lessons in literature and life. ‘Dead Poet’s Society’ will arrive on Netflix September 1st.

Bronson (2008): Nicolas Winding Refn’s stylistic masterpiece, ‘Bronson’, is a biopic that explores the anarchic life of notorious British criminal Charles Bronson, played emphatically by the sublime Tom Hardy. Whilst it might not be everybody’s cup of tea, I can’t recommend it enough. Give it a go if you think you’re hard enough.

Deep Blue Sea (1999): Whilst no other shark movie can really hold a candle to the mighty ‘Jaws’, ‘Deep Blue Sea’ is one of the better ones out there. It’s ludicrous of course, but that is exactly what you should expect and want out of a movie about harvesting the brains of DNA-altered sharks to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. It has Samuel L. Jackson, terrible CGI sharks and plenty of gruesome deaths, what more could you want really?! ‘Deep Blue Sea’ is heading to Netlfix on Friday!

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Welcome to your weekly go-to film guide – WatchThisSpace – where we recommend what to watch in the cinema and on the television, and remind you of those brilliant films hiding in your DVD collection.

IN THE CINEMA

A film many are tipping for success at the Academy Awards next February is finally available for all to see this weekend, as Todd Haynes’‘Carol’enters cinemas. Stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are both being touted as winners for their performance in this drama, so let’s see what all the fuss is about.

When you see the names Steven Spielberg and Tom Hank, you know you’re well and truly into Academy Award season. Their latest collaboration,‘Bridge of Spies’, has already been making huge waves with critics and fans in America, meaning that it’s being tipped as an early contender across many of the categories, with particular focus on the performances of Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance, as they star in this Cold War drama. Get our review here.

Another film that is pushing for awards this year is‘Black Mass’. With an all star cast including Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Joel Edgerton and Kevin Bacon this dark and twisted tale of one of America’s most famous criminals promises to be excellent. To see Depp back on top form is surely worth the trip to the cinema. Get our review here.

Something completely different to the spies, gangsters and love stories we get from the week’s other releases, as the latest offering from Disney Pixar,‘The Good Dinosaur’hits our screens. Whether you’ve got children, or just like to treat your inner child, this promises to be another treat from the animation kings.

ON TV

Tuesday 21:00 GMT: He has already featured in this week’s edition, but he’s so damn good, why not have an extra dose of Tom Hanks? Tune in to Film4 for one of his earlier and most celebrated roles in the 1993 smash hit ‘Philadelphia’.

Wednesday 20:15 GMT: The living legend that is Jim Carrey has made some excellent comedy films over the years, but arguably his most loved is ‘Liar Liar’. Believe us when we say, you have to switch to ITV2 and catch this one.

Thursday 21:00 GMT: Whilst he’s disappeared out of the limelight slightly over the last few months, there is no doubt that Jack O’Connell is one of Britain’s top young talents. Before making the big break into Hollywood, O’Connell could be found in gritty, realist dramas such as ’71’. Enter the Belfast frontline with Film4 this Thursday. Take a look at our review here.

Friday 23:35 GMT: You can never have enough films about solo space missions, but one you may not have seen is the fantastic ‘Moon’ starring Sam Rockwell. Stay up late this Friday with BBC2 and enjoy the beauty of the rock in the sky.

Saturday 15:40 GMT: Like it or not, Christmas is coming, fast! Nothing screams festive more than the classic tale of ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’, which will have you reaching for the tissues. More4 have got your Saturday afternoon sorted.

DIG IT OUT

This is our favourite part of the WatchThisSpacesection. We delve into our own DVD collection and pick out some amazing films, that may not instantly spring to mind when you’re stuck for inspiration to make your movie night a success. Maybe you’ve never seen a film that we pick – or even heard of them for that matter – but you’re gonna have to trust us on this one, and Dig It Out.

Ex Machina: This is a film I had been dying to see all year, but I have a tendency to leave films on my to-watch-list for far too long. I finally got around to watching the directorial debut of Alex Garland last week and I was blown away. The film, which focuses on artificial intelligence, instantly broke into my top 20 for many reasons; brilliant acting performances, a stirring plot and beautiful cinematography. I cannot recommend this highly enough, but here’s our review in case you need more persuading. JB

Ghost: This is a film that has divided critics and audiences, but we love a bit of controversy here at JumpCut UK, so we’re going to encourage you to watch 1990 film ‘Ghost’. This is a comedy/drama/horror/romance story about two lovers, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore with a twist – Swayze’s character is dead and has become a ghost. Sounds a little far fetched right? That was my initial reaction, but this is a really enjoyable film, perfect for cuddling up with your better half on the sofa as the winter nights draw in. Whoopi Goldberg also turns in a wonderful, Oscar winning performance. If you can get your head around the concept, we promise you won’t be disappointed. ND

We Need To Talk About Kevin: From a recent watch, to a film I first saw back at the time of release in 2011. Based on a rather fantastic novel of the same name, this film is a rare example where the adaptation, for me at least, beats the original. Aside from exceptional performances from Tilda Swinton and a young Ezra Miller, this is another film which is visually stunning, capturing an array of symbolism, and juxtaposing tense, gentle scenes with more chaotic moments. We really should be talking about Kevin and this dark depiction of family dynamics. JB

Downfall: This is a German film focused around the telling of Adolf Hitler’s last days in his underground bunker in Berlin, as the Russian troops invaded in 1945, bringing an end to World War II. This film is terrifically moving and bleak and is full of wonderful performances everywhere you look, none more so than Bruno Ganz’s performance as the Nazi leader. I visited Germany just as the film was being released on DVD back in 2005 and we stayed with a lovely family in Sankt Augustin. The German people are so proud of this film because it shows that, as a country, they are willing to talk about the atrocities that occurred and they understand the need to educate new generations about one of the most controversial and difficult times in the country’s history, a notion so passionately explained to me by the father of that particular family that it has stayed with me to this day. Please do not be put off by the fact that this is a German film and you’ll have to watch with subtitles, because it’s a hugely important message of humanity that transcends language all together. ND